There are many different types of creative writing out there, from poetry to short stories. Which do people prefer? And what types of books do they read? We took the liberty of ranking the most popular creative writing books and compiling a comprehensive list of the types of books people are reading and enjoying right now.
Here are the 20 books that are absolutely essential to any literature-lover’s library.
Top 20 Books For All Readers
We’ll begin with The Hobbit, which remains the best-selling literary fantasy of all time. The adventures of Bilbo Baggins continue to inspire everyone, even those who have never picked up a volume in the series. The Hobbit has become such a cultural phenomenon that it inspired a fake Hobbit city in New Zealand, inhabited by costumed enthusiasts who celebrate the book and its many memorable characters each year. This is also the top pick for mystery and thriller fans as well as fans of British humor and language in general.
The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood was the first in a trilogy of books that established Atwood as one of the masters of modern fiction. The novel won the People’s Choice Award at the 2018 Canada Reads competition, where it was interpreted as a call for change in a time of uncertainty. Atwood’s unique brand of dark humor is on full display in this dystopian classic, earning it the nicknames of “the Grapes of Wrath” and “the Handmaid’s Tale.”
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is the third and penultimate novel in the Harry Potter series. Much like The Hobbit before it, Potter inspired a whole subgenre of YA fiction, which is now considered to be a part of the mainstream. The magical realism of the Potter series made it a mainstream sensation, with adults even arguing over who belonged to which Harry Potter house. Prisoner of Azkaban is the book that introduced the world to the Boy Who Lived, and it’s still one of the most popular titles in the series. The novel has sold over 12 million copies worldwide and, according to the Guinness Book of World Records, it’s the best-selling book of all time by a British author.[[media]]
Then there is Cloudbursts by Eleanor Catton, the first in a tetralogy about a 19th century New Zealand poet. Catton weaves together historical fact and fiction to produce a spellbinding coming-of-age story about the first Māori-English translator, Apirana Ngata. The novel won the 2016 Newbery Medal for excellence in writing.
The Most Popular Genres In Creative Writing
When we think of literary fiction, the name of Ann Cleland immediately comes to mind. We might also think of Kate Chopin or Agatha Christie, whose prolific output kept them at the forefront of their genres for most of their careers. But the most popular fiction writers of this era were men, whose bookshelves are filled with titles like Dracula, the Wolf Man, and Frankenstein. These iconic creatures have given rise to numerous spin-offs and inspired countless authors and artists, not just in the field of horror but also in fashion, music, and even art.
The most popular genres in modern fiction include:
- Fantasy
- Horror
- Mystery
- Science Fiction
- Thriller
- Western
- Comedy
- Paranormal
- Revolutionary War
- Romantic Comedy
- Historical Fiction
- Literary Noir
- Alternative History
- Time Travel / Pre-Millennial
- Post-Apocalyptic / Dystopian
- Urban Fantasy
What do you think? Which type of creative writing is your favorite?